The Great Midwestern War: Night of Burning Ships
The Great Midwestern War may have started with the Night of Burning Ships, but the divisions which fueled the great fire that raged across the Midwest for nearly a decade were present long before then. Some of these divisions were baked into the land itself. The Midwest, with its rich soil was always one of the most fertile regions on the continent and as a result it is the most densely populated region in the East and one of the most densely populated regions on the continent, rivaled only by the Central Valley of California or the plains of the Pacific Northwest. Prior to the Bailey Invasion, nearly a quarter of the population of the East, 14 million people, lived within the borders of two nations: the State of Illinois and the Commonwealth of Ohio. With 2 of the most powerful states on the continent sitting side by side, war was inevitable. The Great Midwestern War was not the first time these nations had fought each other. There were minor wars over border fiefdoms, like the city of Terre Haute, Porter County or Gary. But this war was the first time that so many of their neighbors jumped in when alliances, and trade interests aligned to set the entire region ablaze.
The State of Michigan, though not as large or powerful as Illinois or Ohio, has always been a player in the region. It's influence over the merchants of the Mackinaw League and rivalry with Ohio has been a key driver of events in the Midwest. Though the Commonwealth of Ohio is by far it's most powerful neighbor, Ohio's various internal divisions have never allowed it to completely dominate Michigan. However by the 2800s, the President in Cincinnati had accumulated enough control over his vassals to centralize power in Cincinnati. This meant that Ohio could now throw its weight around and spread its influence over the Midwest. At war's eve, it had made tributary states out of Pope-Gallatin County, the State of Tennesee and Knox County and had outright vassalized the State of West Virginia and Allegheny County.
As such, when Governor Clarence IV of Michigan died and Ohio sought to take control over the Michigan throne, Ohio's neighbors decided that this was a step too far and stepped in to challenge the power of the President in Cincinnati.
Spring of 2856, Clarence IV of Michigan was besieging London against the State of Ontario when a stray arrow found its way into his helmet. With the death of their Governor, Michiganite forces retreated from the town and abandoned the siege. It was during this crisis, that Clarence's brother, Wallace was sworn in as Wallace I. Wallace raced against time to return to Ann Arbor but found that his crossing had been blocked by ships from the Genesee County navy upon orders of his nephew, Luthor. In the time between the arrival of news of his father's demise and Wallace's return from Kitchener, Luthor had gathered several nobles and swore himself in as Governor. Luthor then crossed the river and with reinforcements from Genesee County, defeated Wallace's diminished army. After the defeat, most of Wallace's army deserted and Wallace had to flee in the dead of night with only a few loyal retainers.
Wallace made his way to Cedar Point and then to Cincinnati where he spent the rest of 2856, convincing President Micheal V of Ohio to lend him the troops and ships to seize the throne from his nephew. Micheal lent Wallace the army and fleet needed to do so but in return Wallace had to swear fealty to Micheal, wed Micheal's daughter Anna and return the control of Toledo to Ohio. Michigan was at this time, in control of the City of Toledo, with Wallace's grandfather Clarence III having taken over the town at a time when the President in Cincinatti had been distracted by some unruly vassals in the Kentucky marches.
Meanwhile, Luthor, now Luthor II of Michigan, was looking for allies among his neighbors. Knowing that his uncle had fled to Ohio, Luthor secured the allegiance of many important players. He treated with the State of Ontario, renouncing Michigan's claims to London. He also reduced the taxes of merchants who passed through Detroit. But most importantly, Luthor arranged his betrothal to Veronica, first daughter of the State of Illinois and Governor Peter V Dupont's 3rd. The wedding between the two nobles was set to take place the next spring equinox in Detroit, right after the shareholder's meeting of the Mackinaw League. Veronica would be accompanied to her wedding by a significant delegation of Illinoisan and Wisconsinite naval vessels as befitting a noble of her status. A grand celebration would take place as delegates from across the Midwest and Lake region were invited. Most pointedly however, was the absence of representatives from Ohio. The wedding itself would take place on Belle Isle, just upstream of Detroit.
Come March, when Veronica arrived in Detroit for the wedding, Wallace had gathered a small army and a fleet near Sandusky. Under pressure from President Micheal, the merchant houses of Ohio were to participate in Wallace's surprise attack on the wedding, with the intent of destroying rival merchant corporations and seizing control of the Mackinaw League.
Come the day of the wedding, the fleet set forth from Sandusky and reached Detroit by dusk, when the festivities of the wedding were at their peak. Unbeknownst to Luthor, several of Wallace's old allies were aware of the plan and had assembled some soldiers to disrupt the festivities. Wallace and his army disembarked and alongside his allied lords, proceeded to massacre rival merchant houses and lords. Enemy ships were captured and if the crew resisted, they were massacred and the ships burned, else those ships were conscripted for Wallace's cause. By the time the garrison in Detroit finally marched out to meet Wallace, much of the killing was already over. Sensing the change in power, commander Nathan Toustin fell onto his knee and pledged his and Detroit's loyalty to Governor Wallace I. 3 days later, Wallace marched into Ann Arbor and was formally sworn in as the new Governor. Soon after he formally wed his betrothed in Ann Arbor's chapel.
However Luthor was still alive. In the chaos of the massacre, Veronica and Luthor, surrounded by loyal soldiers, were able to flee, and escaped on Illinoisan ships anchored on the northern end of the island. Luthor sailed to Benton Harbor where he set out notices to the remaining loyalist forces of Michigan to meet him in Grand Rapids. By the time the summer solstice arrived, Luthor had an army of nearly 5500 men and 1200 cavalry and set out to meet Wallace on the battlefield. Further to the south an Illinoisan army 15000 men and 3000 horse strong, crossed the Wabash river and captured Terre Haute. The Great Midwestern War had begun.